A lot of comment in the media has been unhelpful, to say the least. A pope, like any other pastor, is not called to be 'liberal' or 'conservative.' The election of his successor cannot, therefore, be thought of in political terms of this kind. He is called to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the faith of the people of God, which is both eternally the same and eternally new.
One of the great themes of Benedict XVI's ministry has been our friendship, our relationship with Jesus Christ:
There is nothing more beautiful than to be surprised by the Gospel, by the encounter with Christ. There is nothing more beautiful than to know Him and to speak to others of our friendship with Him. The task of the shepherd, the task of the fisher of men, can often seem wearisome. But it is beautiful and wonderful, because it is truly a service to joy, to God’s joy which longs to break into the world. Inauguration Homily, April 2005
I ask you to look into your hearts, each day, to find the source of all true love. Jesus is always there. Quietly waiting for us to be still with him and to hear his voice. Deep within your heart, he is calling you to spend time with him in prayer, but this kind of prayer, real prayer, requires discipline. Message to young people, Westminster Cathedral, September 2010His Encyclicals show his concern to work out the implications of that love in human relationships, within the body of the Church, and in the promotion of justice and peace throughout the world:
In a world where the name of God is sometimes associated with vengeance or even a duty of hatred and violence, this message is both timely and significant. For this reason, I wish in my first Encyclical to speak of the love which God lavishes upon us and which we in turn must share with others. That, in essence, is what the two main parts of this Letter are about, and they are profoundly interconnected. The first part is more speculative, since I wanted here—at the beginning of my Pontificate—to clarify some essential facts concerning the love which God mysteriously and gratuitously offers to man, together with the intrinsic link between that Love and the reality of human love. The second part is more concrete, since it treats the ecclesial exercise of the commandment of love of neighbour. Deus Caritas Est (God is Love) 2005
Charity in truth, to which Jesus Christ bore witness by his earthly life and especially by his death and resurrection, is the principal driving force behind the authentic development of every person and of all humanity. Love — caritas — is an extraordinary force which leads people to opt for courageous and generous engagement in the field of justice and peace. Caritas in Veritate (Love in truth) 2009This latter encyclical continues with a searching analysis of numerous issues concerned with justice and peace, human development and the environment.
The Pope has constantly urged the faithful, and particularly the clergy, to use modern means of communication to proclaim the eternal Good News of Jesus Christ:
The challenge facing social networks is how to be truly inclusive: thus they will benefit from the full participation of believers who desire to share the message of Jesus and the values of human dignity which his teaching promotes. Believers are increasingly aware that, unless the Good News is made known also in the digital world, it may be absent in the experience of many people for whom this existential space is important. The digital environment is not a parallel or purely virtual world, but is part of the daily experience of many people, especially the young. Message already written for World Communications Day in May 2013.Interestingly, it is often those of us who are middle-aged and older (!) who have sometimes misunderstood and misrepresented him. Young Catholics often seem to find it easier to appreciate the truths which the Pope proclaims. You may like to follow the GenerationBenedict blog during Lent. It features 40 days, 40 reflections, 40 young people on how Pope Benedict has touched their hearts and why they are proud to be part of Generation Benedict.
The American theologian, Scott Hahn sums up my feelings, and maybe yours, very well:
It's a hard thing to explain to outsiders, the mystery of a family bond that we Catholics all share, and how deeply we feel it. But here is a man who is a father figure to us all, and not just in a symbolic way; for we really are united by a new birth, in the flesh-and-blood of the Eucharist. And this man, we know him to be our spiritual father, in a very real and mysterious way.... I'm sure the Holy Spirit will keep steering the barque of Peter in a good direction. And yet it's unsettling, precisely because the Church is our family, and he is our holy father. But there comes a time when a father becomes so old and infirm, that one of the most profound gestures of love might be to hand things over to the next one in line....And finally, what of the task of the new Pope?
This is the task of all Peter's Successors: to be the guide in the profession of faith in Christ, Son of the living God.... The Chair of Peter obliges all who hold it to say, as Peter said during a crisis time among the disciples when so many wanted to leave him: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe; we are convinced that you are God's holy one" .... The One who sits on the Chair of Peter must remember the Lord's words to Simon Peter at the Last Supper: "...You in turn must strengthen your brothers". The one who holds the office of the Petrine ministry must be aware that he is a frail and weak human being - just as his own powers are frail and weak - and is constantly in need of purification and conversion... But he can also be aware that the power to strengthen his brethren in the faith and keep them united in the confession of the Crucified and Risen Christ comes from the Lord.... Thus, the importance of the mandate conferred upon Peter to the end of time is summed up: being a witness of the Risen Christ. Homily on taking possession of the Lateran Basilica, May 2005What a task! Let us pray with thanksgiving for the one who lays down such a task, and for the one whom the Lord will call to serve the Church as Peter's successor.
